Roberto Orci will boldly go where he has never gone before as 'Star Trek 3' director

Roberto Orci will boldly go where he has never gone before: The veteran Hollywood screenwriter and producer is set to make his directorial debut on Paramount's "Star Trek 3," according to a Variety report.

CaptionTyler Perry and Winona Ryder

Getty Images

-- Compiled by Emily Christianson, Denise Martin, Jevon Phillips and Lora Victorio Winona Ryder has a thing for Vulcans? Who knew? The veteran actress has a cameo in the "Star Trek" reboot as Spock's human mother, and she's not the only surprising face to pop up in the latest journey into the...

-- Compiled by Emily Christianson, Denise Martin, Jevon Phillips and Lora Victorio Winona Ryder has a thing for Vulcans? Who knew? The veteran actress has a cameo in the "Star Trek" reboot as Spock's human mother, and she's not the only surprising face to pop up in the latest journey into the... (Getty Images)

Famous for: Playing Lois Lane on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" and Susan Mayer on "Desperate Housewives." Her character: She played big-haired Lt. B.G. Robinson in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" titled "The Outrageous Okona."

Famous for: Playing Lois Lane on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" and Susan Mayer on "Desperate Housewives." Her character: She played big-haired Lt. B.G. Robinson in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" titled "The Outrageous Okona." (Louie Traub / Associated Press)

Famous for: Co-hosting "Entertainment Tonight." His character: A holographic Klingon in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Icarus Factor." According to the Star Trek Wiki -- where you can see a picture of John Tesh in Klingon garb -- he received no on-screen credit for his cameo...

Famous for: Co-hosting "Entertainment Tonight." His character: A holographic Klingon in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Icarus Factor." According to the Star Trek Wiki -- where you can see a picture of John Tesh in Klingon garb -- he received no on-screen credit for his cameo... (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Famous for: playing Rebecca Howe on "Cheers" and, later, being a prominent Scientologist. Her character: The half-Vulcan, half-Romulan star fleet cadet Saavik in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." She was mentored by Spock and served as navigator for Adm. Kirk. She also helped Spock through the...

Famous for: playing Rebecca Howe on "Cheers" and, later, being a prominent Scientologist. Her character: The half-Vulcan, half-Romulan star fleet cadet Saavik in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." She was mentored by Spock and served as navigator for Adm. Kirk. She also helped Spock through the... (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Famous for: Many things but especially the twisted teen classics "Heathers" and "Pump Up the Volume." His character: A night-duty officer in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country." He scored the part by being a big "Star Trek" fan whose mom, Mary Jo Slater, was in charge of casting the film.

Famous for: Many things but especially the twisted teen classics "Heathers" and "Pump Up the Volume." His character: A night-duty officer in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country." He scored the part by being a big "Star Trek" fan whose mom, Mary Jo Slater, was in charge of casting the film. (Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images)

Orci is writing the story for the new film with newcomers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay and for some time had been considered a front-runner to replace J.J. Abrams, who directed "Star Trek" and "Star Trek Into Darkness." At the moment, Abrams has his hands full directing "Star Wars: Episode VII."

Plot details for the new "Star Trek" movie are unknown. Main cast members including Chris Pine (Capt. Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Mr. Spock) are expected to return. Abrams will produce with Bryan Burke and Skydance's David Ellison.

Orci, 40, is no stranger to the franchise, having co-written the first two films his with longtime collaborator Alex Kurtzman. The two recently went their separate ways to focus on solo filmmaking endeavors; prior to that, they co-wrote "Mission: Impossible III," "Cowboys and Aliens," the first two "Transformers" movies, and both "Amazing Spider-Man" movies.

While Orci has worked on numerous blockbusters as a writer and producer, he represents a bit of a dice-roll for Paramount as a first-time director taking on such a massive film.

Other recent large-scale movies helmed by first-timers have had mixed results: "Snow White and the Huntsman," directed by Rupert Sanders, was a solid box-office performer, while Carl Rinsch's "47 Ronin" and Wally Pfister's "Transcendence" both flopped.